Cracking down on distractions

A tradesman talks on a cellphone and smokes a cigarette as he drives near a police checkpoint targeting distracted drivers. Photo / Michael Cunningham

One-handed cell phone wielding drivers would do well to rethink their distracted habits in the coming weeks, as Northland police crack down on those texting and calling behind the wheel.

Northland road policing manager Inspector Wayne Ewers said "Operation Brake" targeted these motorists and would involve a series of checkpoints across Northland over the next 10 days. He said the number of Northlanders caught using cellphones while driving was on the rise, as was the case across the country.

"Just as we focus on speed and alcohol, we carry out operations targeting drivers illegally using their phones, because we want to reduce deaths and injuries on the roads."

The Advocate visited police monitoring the roundabout between Whangarei's Okara Dr and Port Rd on Friday morning, where Mr Ewers said driver behaviour in the rainy weather had "been excellent", aside from two people not wearing seatbelts and others eating while driving.

The Advocate did snap one tradesman driving on Riverside Dr while brandishing a cellphone and cigarette.

Mr Ewers said distractions came in many forms including fiddling with the stereo, unrestrained pets, quarrelling children, items rolling around in the car, eating, and putting on make-up - though people were not usually pulled over for these unless they were driving carelessly.

"Turn your phone off when you are driving or give it to one of your passengers to take calls, or pull over if you need to make or answer a call," Mr Ewers said.

Cellphone use while driving, even when the car was stationary, had been illegal since 2009. Since then, 1036 fines had been dished out to Northland drivers, up to June 2015. That generated $81,840. Penalties could include an $80 infringement fee and 20 demerits points.

Fees collected from these infringement notices and offence proceedings were transferred into Government funds.

Last year, distractions were identified as a factor in 1053 crashes around the country resulting in 22 deaths, 191 serious and 1179 minor injuries.